Summit Personnel


			Dr. Vahid Motevalli, Phd. P.E, Director : is an Research Professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Director of the Aviation Institute. He was selected as a Congressional Fellow by the American Societyof Mechanical Engineers and served on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science in 1995 - 1996. In 1997, he served as an executive committee member and Safety Track Co-chair of the White House Conference on "International Aviation Safety and Security in the 21st Century." Prior to joining The George Washington University in 1994, he was an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Motevalli has a Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland.

			George Novak, Program Administrator : Mr. George Novak serves as Lead Research Scientist at the Aviation Institute and Program Administrator of the International Summit on Aviation Safety & Security. He has more than 15 years of experience in international aviation matters, beginning his career as a senior FAA attorney specializing in international aviation matters. Since 1993, George has been in private practice, both as an attorney and as a consultant in these areas.

			Leo Boivin, Discussion Coordinator : Mr. Leo Boivin retired in August 2001 after 15 years with FAA Security. During his career with the FAA, he was manager of the Special Activities Staff with extensive international duties. Mr. Boivin instructs at the Jordan Center for Aviation Security and Safety in Amman, Jordan, an ICAO regional training center, and is consultant to a number of governments on aviation security issues. He is currently an instructor for the Aviation Institute, The George Washington University.

			Kenneth Button Ph.D,: Dr. Kenneth Button is currently professor of Public Policy and Director of the Center for Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics, School of Public Policy, George Mason University. He was Special Advisor to the U.K. House of Common Transport Committee from 1993 to 1994. Dr. Button has conducted consultancy work for a wide range of international agencies such as the United Nations and the European Union, and has published widely in the field of aviation policy.

			Marshall Filler : Mr. Marshall S. Filler is an aviation attorney with offices in Alexandria, VA, where he represents individual and corporate FAA certificate holders on safety issues pertaining to design, production, operations and maintenance. Prior to entering private practice in 1985, Mr. Filler worked for six years as the Minority Counsel for the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives, and six years as an attorney with the FAA. He is currently an instructor for the Aviation Institute, The George Washington University.

			Tim Neel :Brigadier General Timothy E. Neel is the owner and managing director of Tim Neel & Associates, LLC, a company specializing in international aviation safety matters. Prior to entering the private sector, Gen. Neel was the Deputy Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard and was manager of the FAA's office responsible for safety oversight assessments under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program.

			Gary Perkins : Mr. Gary Perkins has been one of the architects of the FAA Aviation Safety Oversight Assessment Program. He contributed to the original ICAO audit process and the content of the ICAO Safety Oversight Manual. He was team leader of the recent successful safety oversight re-structuring in Bahamas. Mr. Perkins is uniquely qualified as technical inspector, policy author and management analyst. He is President of the Aviation Safety Oversight Group.

			Nobuyo Sakata, Research Assistant Aviation Institute 20101 Academic Way Suite 333 Ashburn, VA 20147 Ph. (703) 726-8343 nobuyo@gwu.edu

			Siamak Riahi , Research Assistant Aviation Institute 20101 Academic Way Suite 333 Ashburn, VA 20147 Ph. (703) 726-8323 sriahi@gwu.edu

			Chris Salmon, Research Assistant Aviation Institute 20101 Academic Way Suite 333 Ashburn, VA 20147 Ph. (703) 726-8323 salmon@va.gwu.edu